pet valu companion magazine fall 2012- us edition

}Meet our Pet Appreciation Story Contest Winner P.16

Fall I 2012 Your Pet. Your Life. Your Store

Pet Valu

Eco-friEndly toys

INSIDE

ProductReviewour pets put Pet Valu's top products to the test

Ask the Pet Experts We'll find the answer p.5

something new for your cat

NEWPRODUCT

IN-STORE

find out more p.6

RoleTreat

Treats if you please p.14

of the

Back to Cool

Fall Apparel forDogs

PumpkinYOUR PETS'

SUPER-FOOD

Hedgehogs A different tyPe of Pet!

Where is the Kitten Food?Pet of the Month

Jokes, Games & Skinny Pigs

Editor KellieMcCutcheon dESiGN DanielCullen CoNtributorS DavidSummers,Ph.D. CandaceEberts,TeraCashen, LuaEmilia,AlisonPreiss, GavinCarothers

editors page

iam pretty sure Lucys favorite time is fall. Summer days are spent trying to beat the heat, laying on cool tile or finding the perfect shady spot out-side. Winter is fun but her time outside is limited to what I can handle (my favorite season is summer) and her paws have been known to crack from sidewalk salt. Spring is muddy and wet, which inevitably means more baths than she would like. For Lucy, fall is perfect.

One thing Lucy and I both love about fall is pumpkin. Pumpkin is one of Lucys all-time favorite snacks (and my favorite latt flavor). Did you know pumpkin is a pet super-food? It's packed with vitamins and your pets will find it delicious! Look to page 11 for all the benefits of pumpkin and why you should always have an extra can in your cupboard.

While pumpkin is a very healthy treat for dogs, there are a ton of other nutritious treats available for your pet. On page 8, a panel of pets review some of your favorite treats and on page 14 we talk about what role treats play in training, rewarding and bonding with our pets.

I hope you and your pets have a wonderful, pumpkin-loving, treat-filled fall!

Happy reading,

Kellie McCutcheoneditor

contact usKellieMcCutcheon, Pet Valu Companion,

130 Royal Crest Court, Markham, ON, L3R 0A1

Foradvertisingopportunities,[email protected]

u.S.

EditioN

Product availability will vary by store location. Products may not be exactly as shown. Not responsible for typographical errors. Prices

listed are in effect until September 30, 2012 and thereafter are sub-ject to change without notice. Please note that the suggested retail prices referenced in Companion magazine are merely suggestions and

may differ in stores. 2012 PET VALU

3Newin-Store Find out whats happening in-store & meet Petunia! 4CheckoutGo!andNoWFresh New look and better than ever 5PetExpertsAnswer YourQuestions Your tricky questions are answered here!

6Performatrinultra Grain-FreeCatisHere All the details about your cats new favorite food

7ForFashionablePetsonly Collars & leashes that combine function & fashion! 8PetValuProductreview How do our products stack up?10AllLifeStagesCatFood What does that mean?11Pumpkin-palooza! Healthy & delicious!14treatPlease Get the most out of treat time!16PetAppreciation StoriesWinner Meet Dawn & Regan!

18HedgehogLove Dos & Donts about these quilled critters20EcoPetProducts Earth friendly toys for your furry friends!

21FallFashion All the coolest clothes are here

22KidZone! Learn new pet jokes!

23MeetHairy& ExamineProteins All about Hairy and learn about protein

in this issue

trademarks used under license.

follow us onwww.petvalu.com

Fun ProductsIn-Store

2012 fALL Companion 3

didyouknowthatsomeofourstoreshavepetsoftheirveryown?Manyhavebirds,catsanddogs,butonestoredecidedtogoadifferentroutebyhavingapot-belliedpignamedPetunia.Weheardthatshehadquitethepersonality,sowedecidedtogettoknowheralittlebetterbyholdingacelebrityinterview.

itsverynicetomeetyou,MissPetunia.Please,callmeToony! Weheardyoulovetoeat.Whatkindsofthingsareusuallyonthemenu?Myparents,Karen&Dave,trytokeepmehealthysotheyusuallyfeedmepigkibble,bokchoy,romainelettuce(noiceberg,thanks),andfruitsuchaswatermelon,applesandbananas.Illeatcarrots,butonlyiftheyarecooked. Forabreedwithpot-belliedrightthereinthename,youstillstayveryfit.Whatsyoursecret?Itsactuallynosecret,Iliketoplayalot!Myfavoritetoysareplasticwaterbottlesandcardboardboxes,aslongastheyhaveCheerioshiddeninside.Ialsoloveplayinginmyrootingbox;itsaboxfilledwithrocksthatIcandigthroughtofindmytreatsthatsomeonehashiddenforme.

Howaboutyoutellyourfansaboutsomeofyourotherfavoriteactivities.Iliketolieatthefrontdoorofthestoreandwatchthepeoplewalkby.Sometimes,onwarmsunnydays,Illevengowalking.Iabsolutelylovesplashingaroundinmyveryownpiggypool,andnothingbeatshavingmybellyrubbed. Soundslikeyouvegotafunlife!Ireallydo,butwhatIlovebestissharingthejoybymakingpeoplesmile.Sometimespeoplecomeintothestorewhomaybefeelingalittledown,butaftertheymeetmetheyrealwayssmiling.WhatcanIsay,Immyownclaimtofame! thanksfortakingthetimetotalktous,toony.Yourewelcome.Icantwaittogetsomevisitsfrommyfans!

Read more about Petunia on our blog! www.petvalu.com/blog

Toony

Pet? Check. Computer? Check. Love to talk about your pets online? Check.Pet Valus online community is filled with coupons, tip & tricks, exclusive offers and contests. Its a great spot for pet parents to share stories, post pictures of their fur babies and ask questions of the Pet Valu team! What are people talking about online right now?

Join us on Facebook www.facebook.com/PetValuUSJoin us on Twitter @petvaluJoin us on Pinterest http://pinterest.com/petvaluus/Join us on email http://us.petvalu.com/signup

Zoo Med MoPanI Wood50081 from $6.99

FloPPy dISc dog ToyS

53481 $12.99

ZM WIPe ouT50064 $5.99

4.25 oz

JW crackle & crunch dog ToyS

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ZM rePTISaFe50066 $5.99

4.25 oz

4 Companion fALL 2012

new food

Withanew,freshlookandsomeadditionalformu-las,Go!andNoWFrESHarelookingtotakethepetfoodaislebystorm!The packaging is not the only thing they have enhanced;

GO! and NOW fRESH have also had some formula changes so the food better fits your pet's nutritional needs. The formula changes vary depending on the recipe, but enhancements include increasing DHA levels, decreasing fat or adding ancient grains to their whole-grain diets (such as quinoa or kamut). GO! and NOW fRESH were already two fantastic Canadian foods we are excited that they are constantly developing and evolving their formulas to meet the changing requirements of our household pets.

GO! and NOW fRESH are two unique brands made by the same company. Dont know the difference between them? The chart below outlines the key differences and will help determine which of the two is a better fit for your dog or cat!

GO! & NOW FRESH

key dIFFerence Go! NoWFrESH

Primary Protein Source named meat meals (ex. chicken meal or salmon meal) make the food energy packed and filled with a concentrated source of protein100% Market fresh Meats like turkey, salmon or duck. the fresher the better for this formula!

Primary function

Go! fit & free fitness food for everyday dogs and cats. the dog formulas come in puppy, adult or senior and the cat formulas are for all life stages.

Go! refresh & renew revitalize your pets energy needs. this is a whole-grain formula for all life stages.

Go! Sensitivity & Shine Made for dogs & cats with food allergies or sensitivities.

noW freSH Large Breed Made with your large breed dog in mind, which includes added ingredients for hip & joint care.

noW freSH Puppy, Adult, Senior dog, Cat, Kitten & Senior Cat Specially formulated for your pet's life stage.

noW freSH Small Breed Kibble designed to help with chewing, sensitive stomachs and fresh breath.

Grains Available in whole-grain or grain-free formulas. All noW freSH formulas are only available in grain-free.

Lucy Loves

by kellIe MccuTcheon

It's Back & Better than ever!

Hello! I am enjoying Pet Valu Comp

anion magazine. Is there anybody o

ut there that

knows what tool can handle the mat

s that my Bouvier gets? Bouviers d

ont shed

their fur clumps every now and then

, which is great, but the matting is t

errible.

Im beginning to think buzzing him

down and starting from scratch is th

e only answer.

Regular grooming can be expensive

. I need a tool to use at home but ne

ed help

finding something that actually wor

ks. Any suggestions?

diANECooKE SE

AGrAvE,OnTArIO.

Whenitcomestomatting,nofanc

y

gadgetsarerequired,butitisone

of

thosecaseswhereanounceofpre

ven-

tionisworthapoundofcure.regu

lar

brushingshouldpreventmatsfrom

forming,butitdoesnthavetobea

chore.Setasideafewminutestwo

or

threetimesaweektogiveyourdog

an

all-overbrush(dontforgettheinsi

des

ofhislegs!).notonlywillthiskeep

himlookinghisbestandmat-free

,but

itwillalsohelpyoukeeptrackofa

ny

changesinyourpet,liketenderare

as

orlumps.Makeitafuntimefor

youbothbyofferinghimspecial

grooming-time-onlytreats.

Whenyoudofindamatortangle,u

seademattingbrushandtryadeta

ngling

spraytogentlyeaseitout.

I am interested in getting a bird, I li

ve in a condo so I thought it was a p

erfect

small house pet but then I see th

at you need to let them fly around a

nd spread

their wings. How much space does

a bird really need?? I want to make

sure I have

all these answers before I go and ad

opt my new pet! Thanks for your he

lp!

dAVidMISSISSAuGA,OnTArIO.

Younevermentionedwhatspeciesofb

ird

youwerelookingfor,butinasmallerl

iving

space,Iwouldsuggestasmallbirdspe

cies

suchasacanary,budgieorfinch.Whe

nbuy-

ingacage,youneedtotakeintoaccou

nthow

activeyourbirdisandhowmuchtime

hewill

spendinsidehiscage.Whenpickinga

cage,

alwaysgoasbigasyoucan,keepingin

mind

thecostandwhatwillfitinyourhome.

Forsmallbirds,additionalcagewidth

is

moreimportantthanheight,asthewid

thwill

givethemmoreroomtohopfromperc

hto

perch.Birdcagesneedtobementally

and

physicallystimulatingtoabird,soma

kesure

thereisenoughroomforyourbird'sto

ysand

amplespacetomovearound.Properb

ar

spacingisalsoveryimportant,topreve

nt

injury,yetwideenoughforperching.W

hile

smallbirdsneedroomtoflutter,large

birdsneedroomtostretchandflapth

eir

wingsforexercise.

Ask the Pet Experts!


asK tHe pet eXperts

clean life house Bird cage51077 $69.99

JW dematting Brush

52786 $12.99

have a queSTIon?We have Pet eXPertS th

at

can answer your pet questions.

email your question to

[email protected]

and you could see your

question printed in the next

issue of Companion!

only questions that will be published

will be answered. Please include name

and city of residence.

It's Back & Better than ever!

new food!


W e know. We get it. Finding cat food that your cat loves is not easy. Never mind the challenge of finding healthy, cat food that your feline will go bonkers over. Cats are more discerning with their food than other pets. They are particular to certain textures, smells and tastes. This is why we are so eager to tell you about Performatrin Ultra Grain-Free Cat a new addition to the Performatrin family that is sure to impress your cats palate and your health - and dollar - conscious family.

Performatrin Ultra food is holistically made meaning that it goes beyond your pet's basic daily dietary needs and focuses on your pet's whole health. Performatrin Ultra Grain-Free food was the next addition to the Performatrin family, providing healthy, whole food recipes for pets that prefer a grain-free diet. Performatrin Ultra Grain-Free is now available for dogs and for cats.

Our lovable, cuddly, household cats are carnivores at heart. Its this basic principle which explains why they love this food so much. Performatrin Ultra Grain-Free Cat contains a high meat content, making it irresistible to your cat or kitten.

Never heard of All Life Stages food before? This means that this food was designed for your brand new kitten, your healthy adult cat or your mature

senior cat. As described in detail on page 10, All Life Stage food means you dont need to switch foods as your cat reaches certain ages, just the quantity of food you serve them (seniors will eat less than adult cats).

All Life Stages food makes feed-ing your cat a breeze, especially in a multi-cat household where

you cannot seem to keep those little noses out of each other's bowls!

Just for Cats!


What's in it?typically,healthyfoodsarenotthemostdelicious(askanykid)butthisfoodhas4keyingredientsthatmakeithealthyandtastyforourpets:

MeatCatslovemeatandthisfoodhastheperfectblendofturkey,salmon,duckandchickenthatisgoingtoimpresseventhemostfinickyoffelines.Thiscombinationofproteinsprovidesyourcatswiththeaminoacidstheyneedtobuildstrongmusclesandahealthyskinandcoat.

CranBerrY urinarytracthealthisacom-monconcernamongcatowners,whichiswhywholecranberrieswereaddedtotherecipetodiscourageharmfulbacteriafrombuildinginthedigestivetract,preventinfectionsandprovideyourcatbeneficialanti-oxidants,vitaminsandminerals.

oMega-3Salmon,oneofthefourmeatsinthisfood,alsoprovidesanincredibleamountofomega-3essentialfattyacidstoyourcat'sdietwhichhelpreducesheddingandimproveskinandcoat.

YUCCa sHidigeraAprebioticthatpromoteshealthybacteriaandahealthydigestivetract,meaninglitterboxandbodyodoursarenoticeablyreduced.

TranSITIon TIP

When transitioning to a new food, keep in mind that cats have delicate digestive systems, so dont rush it. start by mixing 25%

of the new food into 75% of the old food. feed this blend for a few days. After that, mix the

foods 50-50 for the next few days. then feed 75% of the new food and 25% of the old

food for a couple days. After this transition, your cat should be fully adapted to the new food and you can

feed the new food exclusively.

good To knoW!

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leading fasHion


Spots-Light LED Collars & LeashesAsthedaysbecomeshorter,thereisaverygoodchanceyouaretakingyourdogonhisnightlywalkinthedark.Staysafewithalight-upleashandcollar.Whenthecollarandleashareturnedon,yourpoochisvisiblefrom350yardsaway!Thismeansdrivers,otherdogsandtheirownersareabletoseeyouandyourdogcoming.Alight-upleashandcollarisalsoextremelyhelpfulwhenvisitingacot-tageorparkintheevening,whereyouarenotentirelyfamiliarwiththelandscape.Andifyourdogunexpectedlyfindssomewatertosplashin,nottoworry,thecomponentsarewaterresistant.Thecollarsandleashesareequippedwithtwosmall,replaceablebatter-iesthatlastforupto75hoursofcontinuoususe(goforanhour-longwalkeverynightanditwilllastyou2months).Withthelightbeingbuiltin,youcansuccessfullyavoidfranticallylookingforamisplacedlightrightbeforeyouheadoutthedoor.Anythingthathelpsyouandyourpetstayvisiblewhenitgetsdarkgoesalongwayinkeepingyoubothsafe!

Follow Our Lead


When its time to replace your pet's collar or leash (or add one to her ever-so-stylish

collection), be sure to check out these new options. These new products are a perfect

balance of function and fashion.

Up Country Collars & LeashesYouknowyouareapetpersonwhenyougetexcitedaboutnewcollarandleashpatterns!Buthowcanyounotgetexcited?Thesefantasticnewpatternswillturnanyoneintoapetperson.Thesewashablecollarsandleasheshavestrongandsecurehardware,makingthemattractiveandpractical.SomeofourfavoritesincludetheBellapattern,whichwouldlookgreatonanydog,aswellastheber-fashionableHeart&Bonepatternwhichisperfectforanytimeoftheyear.Theadjustablecollarsareverypracticalforgrowingpuppies(getlongeruseoutofthem!)aswellaspetswhoputonalittleextraweightinthecoolerweather.Allthecollarsarestainandfrayresistant;builttobeaneverydaycollarforyourextraordinarypet.

Allleashesare6feetlongandcollarscomeinsmall,mediumandlarge.unsureaboutsizing?Bringyourpetinandhavethemfittedrightinthestore.

up country collars & leashes from $17.99

Spots-light collars & leads from $22.99

Lucy Loves

prodUCt review


by lua eMIlIa

You expect a lot from your pet products. You need tools and supplies that are effective and easy to use, treats that are palatable, and above all, you want to give your

pets the very best. So we unleashed our discerning team of product reviewers (and their owners!) to put some of our products to the test.

product:FurminatorGroomingtoolsdogfrom $37.99promise: Thedesignoftheedgeallowsthetooltopushthroughthetopcoattoeasilyandgentlyremovetheundercoatandloosehair.Wontcutordamageyourdogsdelicateskin.

YouwouldntbelievethefurrymessmytinyteacupChihuahuausedtoleavebehindonmyclothes.Iwasabitskepticalabouthowmuchthiswouldhelpsincesheissosmallandhasashortcoat,

butevenafterjustthefirstbrushingInoticedamajorimprovement.veryimpressed!Lua&Zo-5/5

TheFurminatoreasilyandefficientlyremovedexcesshaironourGoldenretrieversandEnglishCockerSpanielswithoutdamagingtheirskinortheirtopcoat.Wearenowrecommendingthistoolasanessentialandsafedoggroomingtooltoallofourpuppybuyersandotherdogownerfriends. Michele&darrylandthedogsofblackpoolPerm.reg.Kennel-5/5

Product Review

product: Furminator

NailGrinderfrom $39.99

promise: Thedesignof

thiscordless,battery-in

cludedtool

ensuresnailtrimmingi

ssafe,efficientandpain

less.AutomaticLED

lightensuressafetyand

maximizescontrol.

Welovedthesafetyligh

tandtheplasticcoverhe

lpedkeepthe

processclean.Themoto

rwasquieterthanthato

fothergrinders

onthemarket,whichhe

lpsifyourdogisnervou

sabouthavingher

nailsdone.Thedownsid

eisthatthegrinderwa

sntpowerfulenough

tohandlelargerbreeds

,butitwouldbeperfect

forsmalldogs.

Alison&denver4/5

nail-cuttingtimeisalw

aysastrugglewithmyd

ogashernails

aresotinythatclippers

tendtopinchthesoftcu

ticle.Ittooka

littlegettingusedto,bu

tafterafewnailsshere

alizedthatthe

grinderwasnthurtingh

erandshestartedtorel

ax.Bestofall,

thegrinderleftasmoot

hfinish,nofilingrequir

ed!

Lua&Zo4/5

product: FurminatorGroomingtoolsCatfrom $39.99promise: Effectivelyreduceshairballsandreducessheddingupto90%.Guaranteedtoreducesheddingbetterthananyotherbrush,rakeorcomb.Easytocleanandremoveloosehair.Furminatorremoveslotsofhairandiseasytoclean.ItreducestheamountofhairleftclingingtomyhandwhenIpetthecats.Asforhairballs,itshardtotelliftherewasamajorreduction.daniel&KeenEddie&CaptainAwesome4/5Thisproductissoeasytouse.Itdidagreatjobcombingoutthefineundercoat.Mycatdidntmindbeingbrushedatall!Leslie&Marley4/5Thisisanamazingproduct.Thetoolcollectssomuchhairwhenyoustartbrushing,somakesurethereisnodraftoritwillfly!Asyoucontinuetousethecomb,thereislessandlesshair.IusedtopetSonnyonthecouchwhilewatchingTvandgethandfulsofhair,butnotanymore!Sherri&Sonny4/5

product: VetsbestGasbustersfrom $14.99promise: Helpstoalleviateoccasionalgas,bloating,foulstoolodouranddigestiveupset.Formulatedtosupportnormal,healthydigestionandproperabsorptionofnutrients.Easy-to-feedtablets.

TheydidnthavethegreatestsmellwhenIopenedthejar,butLucylovedit!Onthefirstdayshewasextragassy,butafterthatwenoticedabigdifference.Shereallylikedthetasteofthem,soitwaseasytogivethemassupplements.Withabigdog,wegotthroughthejarquickly,soIwouldbuytwoatatimemovingforward.Kellie&Lucy4/5


prodUCt review

product: PawGanicstoyCleanerfrom $6.99promise:natural,non-toxicandeffective.noneedtorinse.Thisproductistoughondirt,droolandgrime,withoutleavingharshchemicalsbehind.veryeasytouse.Therewasnoneedtorinsethetoys,mydogseemedtoagreewiththeproductanditdidntmakehimsick.ioana&Chipici5/5Thedirtandgrimecameoffeasilywiththiscleaner.Itscomfortingtoknowthatitshealthy,becauseLucypickeduphercleantoysrightaway.Iwaseveninspiredtowashallofherplushtoystoo!Kellie&Lucy5/5

Thisproductwasexcellent!IputpeanutbutterinaKongformydogshelovesitbutlasttimeIoverstuffedtheKonganditwasdifficulttogeteverythingout.ButwiththehelpofthePawGanics,someQ-tipsandsomepapertowelsherKongnowlooksgoodasnew.Itevengotoutthelittlepiecesofrubberthatcomeofffromscrubbing.Iwoulddefinitelyrecommendthis!tanvi&Marley5/5

product: GreenGrass

-GrassGuardWaferf

rom $9.99

promise:Thesewafers

helpreduceurinarynitr

ogenlevelsand

neutralizethepotentialf

orhighpH(alkaline)uri

nethatcandamage

grass.Thistastywaferp

romotesahealthypeta

ndspotlesslawn.

Thesebiscuitshaveast

rongsmellbut

thedogsdidntseemto

mind!Thereare

afewyellowspotsstillo

nthelawn,

butwithmultipledogsI

suspectthat

isbecausetheyliketoc

opyeach

otherspeespots.

Alison&denver3/5

Iusedthisproductfortw

oweeks,

andthoughMemphislik

edhow

theytasteIcantconclu

dethatthe

wafersmadeadifferenc

eforour

lawn.Tokeepthewafers

from

goingstale,Iwouldrec

ommend

usingachipcliponthe

bag

inadditionthebuilt-ins

eal.

Gavin&Memphis2.

5/5

product:Greenies-Catfrom $2.99promise: Clinicallyproventohelpreducetartarandplaquebuild-up.Freshensbreath.Has

agreattastethatcatswilllove.unfortunately,mycatFerguswasnotinterestedinthesetreats.MycousinscatOreo,however,enjoyedthemverymuchandshedidnoticethatOreohadfresher-smellingbreath.Andrea&Fergus1/5Andrea&oreo4/5

product:Greenies-dogfrom $15.99

promise:Clinicallyproventoreducepla

que

andtartarbuild-up.

Ilovedthisproduct.Mydogisverysen

sitive,

andeatinganythingotherthanhisdog

foodcan

makehimsick.HelovedtheGreenies

andnever

gotsick.Bestofall,hedoesnthaveba

d

breathanymore!ioana&Chipici5/

5

Manydentaltreatsarehard,makingit

hard

tocutthemintoasizemoreappropria

tefor

my5lbpup.Thesetreatsweresoften

ough

tobendinhalf,whichIreallyliked.My

dog

adoresthesetreats,andIadoreher

fresherbreath!Lua&Zo5/5

Lucy Loves

dr. dave


t his may be a question that you ask yourself when you want to buy grain-free food for your kitten or puppy. You look, but for most grain- free brands you cant find them. Why? Well, for the brands without kitten or puppy foods, if you were to read through the label from start to finish, buried in there somewhere, usually in the AAFCO statement, will be the words "formulated to meet the needs for All Life Stages". An All Life Stage food is formulated to meet the nutritional needs of both growing pets and adult pets. That is nice to know, but what you are really interested in is, Is this food as good as a puppy or kitten food, or if I want the best food should I be buying food specific-ally labeled as a puppy or kitten food?

FoodHasComeaLongWayTo answer that question we need to look at why puppy and kitten foods were originally developed. Back when puppy and kitten foods were first introduced the nutritional quality of dog and cat foods was much poorer than it is today. As the nutritional knowledge of dogs and cats advanced it became clear that puppies and kittens needed better foods than were currently available. Puppy and kitten foods were developed to give pups and kittens the proper nutrition they needed. There are quite a few nutritional differences between a growth food and an adult food but the most apparent are the higher fat and protein levels. The higher fat level gives the puppy or kitten food more energy to meet the growing pets higher metabolic rate, and the higher protein provides the amino acids needed to build muscles and other tissues. As the years went by there was a great improvement of all dog and cat foods and

Where is the Kitten

Food?by davId SuMMerS, Ph.d.

the nutritional differences between growth foods and adult foods lessened considerably.

NeedsArebeingMetEspecially in the case of cats, because the nutritional differences are less between kittens and adult cats than between puppies and adult dogs. The nutritional need for a separate kitten food almost disappears with a high quality food. With the introduction of higher meat protein, grain-free foods, the last major difference between puppy and kitten foods versus adult foods has disappeared in most brands. The higher protein and fat levels mean these foods have all the protein and energy required for growing pups and kittens, and because more of the protein comes from meat, these foods also have more of the other unique nutrients required by growing pets. For example, the kittens higher requirement for taurine is met because meat protein is a good source of taurine. The same is true for all the nutrients required by puppies and kittens. Most grain-free foods with a high meat protein level are difficult or impossible to improve upon as puppy or kitten foods. DHA to help brain development is met in foods that have fish ingredients, such as salmon.

readtheLabelThere is a wide variety of grain-free foods and not all of them make equally good growth foods. Grain-free foods that are low in protein, under 28% for dogs and under 33% for cats, are not good options for growing pup-pies and kittens. With a few excep-tions, the first two ingredients should be meat ingredients. The tradition of having higher protein and fat levels for puppies and kittens doesnt apply to grain-free food, as they already have a higher fat and protein level. Having too much protein coming from meat starts to upset the nutri-tional balance of other nutrients, in particular the mineral balance need-ed for pups and kittens. Because the optimum range of required nutrients is narrower for growing pets, having too much of particular nutrients, like minerals, is as much a concern as having too little.

HighQualityAllLifeStagesNot finding a puppy, or especially a kitten food, is not unique to just grain-free foods. It is not unusual to not find kitten foods for many of the high quality holistic cat food brands as well, because kitten formulas are simply not needed. Often having a kitten food is more directed at you than at what your kitten needs. With pups, there is a greater nutritional difference between pups and adult, and not surprisingly more of the holistic brands that do not have kitten foods do in fact have puppy foods.

natural Balance limited Ingredient diet grain-Free cat Food price from $15.99All Life Stages, balanced nutrition that is gentle on sensitive stomachs.

nature's variety Instinct grain-Free cat Food price from $18.99All Life Stages, holistic and helps improve skin & coat.


pUMpKin

When we think of pumpkin, we think of carving faces, scooping out the inside, or baking for pumpkin pies. But pump-kin isnt just a decoration. Pumpkin is an extremely versatile fruit that sometimes doesnt get the attention it deserves.

Pumpkin is an amazing super-food with a super-pack of vitamins (A, C and E to name a few), antioxidants, and minerals. Pumpkin also has the advantage of being filling, anti-inflammatory, low in saturated fat and very low in cholesterol and sodium. It is perfect for pets with diabetes too, as it has a low glycemic load and doesnt increase blood sugar lev-els very much.

SUPER-FOOD! The main benefit for dogs and cats is the dietary fibre that pumpkin contains. This eases the dreaded food transition, whether transitioning a pet from one protein source to another (say from chicken to lamb), or from one brand of food to another.

Anyone who has switched a pet from one food to another without any of the old food knows the problems that can occur. The biggest problem is diarrhea. This occurs because the digestive flora in the digestive tract have adapted to the nutrients and the proper breakdown of food that the current food gives them. When a food is switched, the flora may not receive the same nutrients that they expect. This hinders your pet's ability to break the food down efficiently, giving the pet diarrhea.

By adding pumpkin to the pets diet, the dietary fibre in the pumpkin gives the digestive flora the nutrients and ability to adopt to the new food. The stool continues to be firm because the digestive tract can do its job normally despite the new food.

Pumpkins fibre can help relieve constipation too. The fibre helps keep enough moisture in the stool, making it easier for the pet to pass its stool.

PUMPKIN PRODUCTS EVERYWHERE! There are many products that contain pumpkin to help with these functions, such as Nummy Tum-Tums pumpkin puree in a can. Just add a few dollops to the pets food according to the directions, or freeze in an ice tray and give as a treat.

Firm Up! Pumpkin contains both pumpkin and apple fibre and comes in a powder form, which makes it handy for travelling with your pet.

Look for pumpkin in treats too, most notably Fruitables, which has several flavours of crunchy treats that also contain a variety of other fruits. These treats are packed with nutrition and are small enough to act as training treats too.

You can also find pumpkin in the food section. Weruva has canned food for both cats and dogs and contains either puree or cubed pumpkin. These can be added on top of the dry food as an extra treat, or can be used as a meal in itself. Look for the chicken varieties, such as Funky Chunky or Grandmas Chicken Soup.

So next time you carve a pumpkin, think about giving some fruit to your dog or cat, or come in to your local Pet Valu and grab an amazing pumpkin-filled product.

by Tera caShen

Pumpkin

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iN PET PARENTiNG

Why Give Treats?For dogs and cats, there are many good reasons to give them treats.

Maybe it's a reward, something to eat in between meals, or something to

keep them busy (so theyre not doing something bad!). Its important to

know a thing or two about how treats can be used positively so that both

you and your pet can enjoy treat time and benefit from good pet behavior.

That being said, dont just buy any old treat for your furry buddy. You should

always read the label and make sure you are getting high-quality and

healthy products.

treats

The K9 Approach- Excitement is a no-no

Treatscanbeapowerfultoolfortrainingandawaytoreinforcegoodbehaviorinourdogs.Conversely,treatscanalsobeawayofreinforcingbadbehavior,evenifwedontrealizeit.Dogsseetreatsasaformofaffection,muchlikehugsandbelly-rubs.Whenwegiveourdogatreat,wearesendingamessagetotheirbrainthatwelikewhattheyaredoingatthatmoment,whetheritssittingquietlyandatten-tivelyorjumpingalloverustryingtograbthetreatfromourhand(baddog!).Thisiswhytreatsaresuchapowerfultrainingtool.Ifwearerepeatedlydoingasimpleexercise,liketeachingourdogtosit,atreatisawaytoreinforcethatbehavior.Forthisreason,itsveryimportantthatourdogassociatestreattimewithacalmandobedientstateofmind.

Attention Please!Heressomethingthatmaysurpriseyou:whenyouopenatreatbag,yourdogcanalreadysmellit.notonlythat,shecansmellwhatsomeofitsingredientsare.Trythis:askyourdogtositorliedownquietlyonceyouhavethetreatinhand.Ifyoustaycalm,theywillbecomecalm.Thekeyistobepatient!Waituntilyouhaveherfullattention,andthenslowlyplacethetreatinfrontofhersnoutsoshecantakeitfromyou.Gettingusedtothiskindofritualisimportanttoconditionourdogstorememberwhatkindofbehaviorisexpectedofthem.Givingourdogstreatsatvariousstagesofexcitementcanactuallyconfusethemtothepointwheretheywillnotknowwhatweaspetparentswantfromthem.

Medicine, What Medicine?Danglingatreatinfrontofyourpetcanalsobeaneffectivewayofkeepingherattentiononyou,andawayfromsomethingelse.Forexample,ifyoufindyouarehavingahardtimeputtingtopicalmedicationonyourdog,atreatcanbeagreatwaytomotivatehertositstillwhileyouhaveafriendorfamilymemberworktheirmedsmagic.

Walking Like a Good DogIfyouareteachingyourdoghowtowalkproperlyonleash,givingtreatsisalsoacceptable,thoughthetimingisalittlebitdifferent.Thebehavioryoushouldbelookingforisthatsheiswalkingbesideorbehindyou,notleadingandnottry-ingtopullyouindifferentdirections.Thenumberonedistractionbywhichyourdogwillbeluredonwalksisstrangesmells.Havingsometreatsinyourpocketandkeepingoneinyourhandtodrawyourdogsattentioncanhelptosetthepaceyoudesireforthewalkandhelpkeephernosefromgettingdistractedbyothersmells.

Keeping Them BusyTreatsusedinatoylikeaKongcanbeafunactivityforyourpoochaswell.Cleanthetoy,thenfillitwithafewoftheirfavoritetreatsandletthemhaveatit.Thiscanbeagoodbreakfromkeepingacloseeyeonapuppythatsteethingaswell.Itseasytoalmostfeelbadwatchingyourdoggoinsaneovertryingtogetthelasttreatoutyoumayevenfindyourselfcavingandfishingitoutforthem.Butremember,thisactivityshouldalwaysbesupervised!

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They're Different, AlrightAnyonewhosbeenalong-timecatordogownerknowsthattheyarewiredquitedifferently.Domesticatedcatswereoriginallybredtohuntvermin,somostofthemarefairlyindependentandarentasobsessedwithgettingourattentionandpraiseasdogs.Catslovetreatsbecausetheytastegreat.Treatscanbeagreatwaytoreinforcepositivebehaviorwithyourcat,whetheritisafunbreakbetweenmeals,arewardforbehavingwell,oreventraining.Yes,catscanbetrainedtoo,believeitornot!

Good KittySometimesaspartofourdutiesofgoodpet-parentingweneedtoengageinactivitieswithourkittythathemaynotlike.Thiscaninclude:nailtrimming,brushing,earcleaning,medicating,orteethbrushing.Treatscanbeagreatwayofreinforcinggoodbehaviorafterwehavefinishedoneoftheseactivities.Dontforgettodotherequiredactivitycalmlyandovertimehewillbegintoassociatetheseactivitieswiththepositivereinforcementofatreat.Evenwhenyoucatchyourcatdoingsomethingright,likeusingthatscratchingpostinsteadofthecarpetoryournewsweateryouforgottohangup(whoops),atreatcanbeagreatwayofrewardingthisgoodbehavior.

Yes, You CAN Train a Catnokidding!Butthisrequiresamodifiedapproachcomparedtodogs,andtreatsareagreattoolwhentrainingyourcat.Letsusetheexampleofgettingyourcattositonachair.Catsgetboredeasily,sokeepyourtrainingsessionsrelativelyshort.Itsalsohelpfultouseaclickerorsomethingthatmakesaclickingnoisesuchasapen,immediatelywhenhehasdemonstratedthebehavioryourelookingfor,followedbyatreat.Fortraininghimtositonachair,trainhiminstages.Firstly,rewardhimjustforjumpingonthechairandgivingyouhisattentionwhenyouveasked.Whatevercommandoractionyouuse,justkeepitsimpleandconsistentfortheactionyouarelookingforhimtodemonstrate.Forthesecondorthirdtrainingsession,challengehimtositbyholdingthetreatinfrontofhimandslowlyarcupwardssohisnosefollowsyouupandhisrearstartstogodown.Evenifhedoesntsitallthewaydownonthefirstorsecondtry,stillgivehimthetreat.Gethimtoworktowardssittingallthewaydowneventually.

Whentreatsareusedfortherightreasonsandundertherightcircumstances,theycanbeagreatwaytopositivelyreinforcegoodpetbehavior,torewardthem,orjusttohavesomegoodfun.Choosethetypeandfrequencyofyourtreatswithsomecareandyouwillfindthatthisisoneofmanywaystogetthemostoutofbeingapetparent!

Just for FunCatsarequiteeasytopleasewithtreats,aslongastheyliketheingredi-ents,theshape,andthetasteyoureofferingthem.Itsactuallyquiteanicewaytobondwithyourcat.Youcanevenmakeagameoutofitbytossingthemaroundandwatchingyourcatchasethetreatsdown.Likeanything,remembertotreattheminmoderation.Treatsarentmeanttobearegularmealreplacement,andcatscanbecomeoverweightifweoverdoitwithoutprovidingthemenoughexerciseandawell-balanceddiet.

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Please tell us a little more about the impact that Regan has made in your life:

Regan has made a HUGE impact on my life. After our son died I felt it wasnt fair to Regan to miss the obedience classes we were tak-ing, so we got right back into training. If it were not for being kept so busy with Regans training, I probably would not have left the house. Regan is such a sweet dog. She doesnt leave my side, follows me from room to room around the house and she is totally dependent on me, which is something I needed at the time. That, and unconditional love!

You and Regan are involved in therapy work; please tell us a little more about how you got involved with that.

We have completed novice, intermediate 1, intermediate 2, and advanced training through Sparkwatch Professional Dog Train-ing in St. Catharines, Ontario. When the therapy dog training became available we jumped at the chance. The training Regan and I took through Sparkwatch follows the 12 guidelines of the CKC for Canine Good Neighbour certification.

Our trainer, Melodi Doiron-Bennett, is an evaluator for the CKC and we had to train and pass the test in order to be certified. Melodi and Tracy are amazing dog trainers and it is because of them that Regan and I are on this journey. We visit a local home for the aged and it is wonderful to see the smiles on the faces of the residents when they see the dogs. Many of these seniors have had pets in their lives and love to talk about them. We also visit a public school in our city every Wednesday where the children in the ESL (English as a second language) class read their books to the dogs. Some of the children are apprehensive about reading aloud in class, but they will read to a dog as the dogs are non-judgmental. While at the school we also visit the special needs class, and children who were once apprehensive about approaching the dogs now cant wait for Wednesdays to interact with the dogs.

What is your favorite part of volunteering with your pet? What is Regans favorite part?

After I retired I knew I wanted to do volun-teer work, but had no idea at the time that it would be so rewarding. Visiting the seniors gives them something to look forward to, and the children have opened up and carry on a dialogue in class, drawing pictures

regan's storY


Heart of Gold(en) Our Winning Pet Appreciation Story

Tocoincidewithour2ndAnnualPetAppreciationWeekendandourfirstevernationalAdoptionWeekend,weaskedpetparentstotellusaboutthetimetheyhelpedapetorapethelpedthem.Wereceivedover1,200entriesandweretrulytouchedbytheincrediblestoriesweread.ThewinningentrycamefromDawnBergemann,ofSt.Catharines,Ontario.Dawnsentryencapsulatedallthewonder-fulthingsthatpetsbringtoourlives,fromhelpingustoovercomepersonaltragedies,tobecomingmoreinvolvedinourcommunities,andjustenjoyingtheamazingbondthatwesharewiththeanimalswelove.Dawnwonayearoffree

PerformatrinFoodforregan,aswellasanappearanceinourflyer.WeaskedDawntotellusalittlemoreaboutreganandthevolunteerworkthatsheandreganenjoytogether.

Interview by alISon PreISS


regan's storY

of the dogs and writing stories about them. They now know all the dogs names and often request a particular dog to read to. I absolutely love these visitations and look forward to meeting new children each week.

Regan especially likes when the children ask if they can give her a treat (which I carry with me).

When you and Regan arent out helping others, what do you like to do together?

When Regan and I arent visiting the nursing home and school we love to take long walks. Regan loves it and it certainly helps me get exercise I wouldnt be getting if it were not for Regan.

What advice would you give other pet owners who are considering volunteering in a pet-based program?

For any pet owner I would urge you to get your dog into a therapy dog training program. You wont regret it. It gives

you the satisfaction of helping others in your community. If you live in the Niagara Region I highly recommend Sparkwatch Professional Dog Training but there are classes in other areas. St. John Ambulance has a program, and you can get further information on the Canine Good Neighbour program from the Canadian Kennel Club.

read more great Pet Appreciation Stories onlinepetvalu.com/petappreciationcontest

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PetWeekend

Appreciation In April, Pet Valu US and Pet Valu Canada stores raised over $614,000 for local pet rescues and charities, thanks to your generosity. Here is a list of all the US organizations we were able to help.

As with the arrival of any new pet, its important to consider the care that they need, whether it be what type of habitat they may need or what kind of food they need to eat. A hedgehog can be quite a different type of pet, but once your hedgehog becomes used to you, it will be a rewarding experience.

rub-a-dub-dubHedgehogs are generally clean animals. They groom themselves as other pets would, but some-times they may not be able to clean certain spots, so it is important to inspect his quills regularly and clean him off if he is dirty. Check the feet too. You can use the bathroom sink or a small tub for his bath. Fill with enough warm water to cover his feet. A toothbrush or a soft baby brush can be used to clean through his quills. Then rinse well and dry him off thoroughly with a towel.

PricklyProfileThere are 15 species of the hedge-hog, but the most commonly seen as pets are the African pygmy hedgehogs.

In the wild, hedgehogs gener-ally live 2-3 years, but pet hedge-hogs can live up to 10 years if given the proper care. Hedgehogs use the quills on their back and sides for protection. If they sense danger is near, they draw in their stomach muscles and curl up into ball. This protects their face and undersides, which are covered with soft shaggy fur.

When the spines on the fore-head are erect, the hedgehog is shocked or cautious. They will also erect the spines on only one part of the body in the direction of whatever has disturbed them. But when the spines are laid f lat, the hedgehog is comfortable and relaxed.

HedgeHogs


bringHomebabyDont be alarmed if your hedgehog acts distrustful of you the first few days after coming home. He may roll into a ball or butt you with erected spines on his forehead. But he will quickly become acquainted to his new home and new people, and you can win him over that much more quickly by offering him mealworms or other treats.

Handle your hedgehog daily in the evening or early morning for short periods of time. This will allow him to get used to your scent and touch. Hedgehogs have very good senses of smell and hearing but they cannot see very well, so abrupt noises will startle them.

AHouseisaHomeThe indoor cage should not be too small as hedgehogs are very active and need lots of space to exercise. Make sure to have a proper cover on the cage to keep them from escaping. The cage should be well-ventilated. Keep the cage away from drafts and direct sunlight, and during cooler months be sure to monitor the temperature. Hedgehogs prefer warm climates, but if it gets too cold or too hot, they will go into hibernation. Like hamsters, hedgehogs sleep during the day and are active at night, so it is important to provide a good hidey hole for sleeping, preferably one that can block out light.

Hedgehogs also love to explore, so they can spend time outside of their cage in the house or outside in good weather. Dont forget to supervise, and block off areas that may be dangerous to your pet.

dinnertime!You dont have to go out into the garden to catch bugs to feed your hedgehog. There is a specialty dry food made just for hedgehogs that can be found at pet stores. Dry food will help to clean their teeth because the crunchy kibble will scrape their teeth as they eat.

Use a heavy food dish that cannot be tipped over, and fill a water bottle with fresh water daily. Feed your hedgehog once a day, in the late afternoon or early evening depending on when he wakes up, and be sure to monitor for weight gain.

Thats One Quilled Critterby Tera caShen

needto

Know never force a hedgehog

to uncurl because this could harm him. dangle a tasty treat by his mouth and wait

for him to uncurl.

Sometimes, hedgehogs will start foaming at the mouth and begin spitting on themselves.

this is called self-anointing. Scientists are still unsure why hedgehogs do this.

Hedgehogs can do well with other

animals, such as dogs, cats or rabbits. Supervise their first meetings.

8in1 hedgehog diet50298 price from $4.9922 oz

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Pet valu is proud to introduce grain-Free cat as the newest member of the Performatrin ultra family.

dr. dave Summers, Pet valus nutritionist, has done it again. Performatrin ultra grain-Free Feline Formula was developed with the optimal health of your cats and kittens in mind.

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do-it-yoUrSeLf!Natural, recyclable and environmentally friendly toys for cats and dogs have become increasingly popular choices for environmentally conscious pet par-ents. Natural and recycled materials are used as alternatives to provide safe and healthier toys. Without the use of chemicals and by reusing existing materials, natural and recycled toys are improving our environment. So what environ-mentally friendly toys are out there? Here is a variety of eco-friendly pet toys that will provide hours of healthy playtime for your pets.

AussieNaturalsoffersaselectionofwoolandJute/Cottonropetoys.Woolisafantastic,naturalmaterialthatisanti-microbialandrepelsbacteriaandodours!Coconutfillingisusedintheplushtoylineandis100%environmentallyfriendly;forchewing,snugglingorafungameoftug,Aussienaturalsdefinitelygivesyourdogsomethingtowaghistailabout.

WestPaw hasadurable,floatable,bouncylineoftoysthataremadefrom100%recycledmaterials.Eventhepackagingboastsrecycledpaperandsoybasedinks!Brightlycoloredandshapedtoentertain,WestPawofferschews,balls,tugsandfrisbeesforalltypesofplay.Thesetoysarefantasticforfun-filledafternoonsathome,waterfilledadventuresatthecottageandgeneralsharingfrenziesatyourlocaldogparks.

Planetdogoffersanenvironmentallyfriendlyselectionofmintyscentedtoysyourdogissuretolove.Madefromnon-toxic,recycledmaterials,PlanetDogtoysarebuoyant,durableandratedforchewersofalltypes!

Forcats,ourselectionoftoysvariesfromnaturaltoystoorganicallygrowncatniptoys.Checkoutourselectionoffish,balls,feathertailedchewsandevencigars!Yourcatwillenjoyhoursofentertainmentwithoneormoreofourmanyenvironmentallyfriendlyalternatives.

KongNaturals isalineofcattoysthatfeaturesmaterialsanddyesusedfromnatural,renewableresources.Specificallydesignedtostimulatethestalkingandhuntinginstinctsofcats,thenaturalcatnipfillingprovidesanaddedbonustothesuccessfulhunter.SomeKongnaturalsproductsofferastrawouterlayer,whichisquitedurableandoffersatexturedsurfacefullofnooksthataregreatforchewingandclawing.

Catitterratoys aremadefrom100%naturalmaterials.Eco-friendlyanddesignedwithyourcatsbestinterestsinmind,CatItTerraToysaredesignedtoengageyourpetforhoursofpouncingandchasingfun.CheckouttheCatItTerraToyBallwithStringforsomequalityplaytimeforyouandyourfelinecompanion.

Yeowww! isacompanythatgrowsandmanufacturesorganiccatnip.Yeowww!toysarefilledtothemaxwithcatnipandzerostuffing!Offeredinawidevarietyofshapesandsizes,thesecatnipstuffedtoyswillkeepyouandyourcatquiteentertained.Forlicking,kicking,chewing,bitingandchasing,Yeowww!Catniptoysaremadefromatoughcottonmaterialstrongenoughtowithstandalltypesofplay.

Wedefinitelyhavetoyscoveredsohowaboutsomenaturaldo-it-yourselfalternatives?belowaresomeexcitingwaystokeepyourfurryfriendsentertained.

basicmaterialsarerequiredsobepreparedwithrecycledcontainers,tastytreatsandcreativehidingplaces.

Ice-ColdFrozentreatsareahealthy,cooltreatyoucanofferyourdogoryourcatduringthesummermonths.usingaplasticcontainer,layerafewtreatsatthebottomandaddsomewater.Freezeandrepeattheprocessuntilthecon-tainerisalmostfull.removeyourfrozentreatandplaceoutdoorsforyourpettoenjoy.

Found You!Hideandseektreatsareanotherfun,healthyandenvironmentallyappealingwaytoentertainyourpets.Chooseaselectionoftreatsthataredurable,tastyandchewyandhidethemaroundyourhouse!Catsanddogshaveanamazingsenseofsmellandwillbeabletoseekoutthesetasty,hiddensurprises.Feelfreetohidesometastytreatsoutdoorsaswell!

Withsuchawideassortmentoffuntochoosefrom,feelfreetovisityourlocalPetValustorewithyourpet.Nothingbeatsahelpfulpawtoensuretherighttoyisselected.

Lucy Loves

West Paw Zisc52625 $14.99

Environmentally Friendly Toys for Dogs & Cats

Hot Couture Next time youre reminding your family to put a sweater on, dont forget the family dog! Whether youre conserving energy by turning down the thermostat, or venturing out on a cool fall day, a sweater can help keep your pet cozy when the temperature drops.

Chilly Dog sweaters help your dog stay warm, and are also eco-friendly and support fair trade. Chilly Dog sweaters are hand-knit by Quechan Indian artisans in South America using organic wool and natural plant dyes. The knitters are paid a fair living wage, and by using fair trade guidelines, Chilly Dog employs many knitters in healthy workplaces so your dogs sweater is helping workers achieve a better lifestyle in their small villages. Warm your dog and your heart in six different styles.

Winter Wonderland WearDont let the winter weather slow down your dogs active nature; pick up a coat made for winter. Coats with a water-proof material on the outside and a warm material on the inside will provide a great combination of weather protection and comfort. Try on coats before purchasing to make sure the fit is right, and to make sure your dog can move freely.


Back to Cool: Fall Apparel For Dogs

2012 Fall Apparel from Bailey & Bella For fall 2012, Pet Valu is launching our new line of dog sweaters, vests and coats. Look for our new bone-patterned roll-neck sweater, striped roll-neck sweater, and matching striped scarves with pompoms, all available in three great colors. Also included in this new line is a reversible nylon vest with rubber bone appliqu. Bailey & Bella apparel is offered in all sizes and color co-ordinated for the furry fashionista.

apparel

Bailey & Bella Stripe Scarf with Pompoms red/Black 69691-69693, S-L$7.99

Bailey & Bella reversible nylon vest with Bone applique red/Black 69935-69939, XS-XL$17.99

Not sure if your dog needs a little extra warmth and protection in the winter months? Unless your dogs coat was built especially for winter (like Huskies or other breeds with thick weather-resistant fur), a little extra warmth will be most welcome.

by alISon PreISS

fall apparel

note: Plaid Coat is available in stores Sept. 15th, all others are available in store August 20th.

Bailey & Bella Bone roll neck Sweater-Black/Blue/Ivory 69685-69689, XS-XL$17.99

Bailey & Bella Plaid Blanket coat red Plaid 90282-90283, XS-XXXLXS, S - $17.99M-XL - $21.99XXL-XXXL - $24.99

KID ZONE

Q: Why do dogs run in circles?A: Because its hard to run in squares!

Q: Whats the difference between a fish

and a piano?A: You cant tuna fish!

Q: What do you

call

a fish with no e

yes?

A: Fsh!

Q: What kind o

f tiles

cant you stick

on walls?

A: Reptiles!

Q: When does a guinea pig go moo?

A: When it is learning a new language!


KID ZONE ANS

WERS

www.petvalu.com/comp

anionanswers

Q: There were

four cats

in a boat, one ju

mped out.

How many were

left?

A: None.

They were all

copy cats!

Q: What do you give a sick bird?A: Tweetment!

Spot the Differ

ence

there are 7 differences between

the two pictures. See if

you can find all 7 differences.

KID ZONE


Our pets have specific dietary needs, and one of these is protein. Like us, their bodies cant synthesize all the amino acids and nutrients that they need, so many of these need to be obtained through food. Dietary protein provides these essential amino acids and nutrients, and replenishes protein reserves. Lets look at the benefits of some proteins commonly found in pet foods.

Beef In addition to having a balanced profile, beef is also a fantastic source of phosphorous for strong teeth and bones, zinc for a

healthy immune system, B-complex vitamins which help release energy

from food, selenium for the production of antioxidant enzymes, and

iron for energy production.

Pork This meat is an excellent source of nutrients such as Selenium, Zinc, Phosphorous and B-complex vitamins. It is also a rich

source of histidine, which is especially important for growing kittens as

well as dogs of all ages.

Fish In addition to being a good source of leucine, lysine and phenylalanine, the omega-3 fatty acids in fish such as wild salmon boost a pets ability to withstand allergies, fight kidney disease and arthritis, and maintain cholesterol at a healthy level.

Poultry Considered a complete source of protein, poultry such as chicken, turkey and duck is a highly digestible source of protein and

has a well-balanced amino acid profile. It also increases the palatability

of your pets food.

Eggs Also a complete source of protein, eggs contain a variety of nutrients including choline for brain health, and are a natural source of

vitamin D, calcium and phosphorus to help your pet's metabolism.

Ingredients

Do you have anyone with pet allergies in your family? Fa

milies that have

allergies have found that hairless guinea pigs (skinny pig

s) are a perfect addition

to the family. We had the opportunity to get to know Hai

ry Willis this summer,

a skinny pig with very cute ears and a very large appetite

!

Name: Hairy Age: My birthday is July 21 I turned

2 this year!

Breed: Skinny Pig Astrological Sign: Cancer

Describe your home: It is a spacious 20x40 cage wit

h a combination of

aspen fluff and ground corn cob on the bot

tom. It used to have a second floor,

but it had to be removed because I kept pe

eing on it. I have an igloo for

privacy, a large container of hay, a large bo

wl of fresh food and of course

my Kaytee Fiesta Max Guinea Pig Food from Pet Valu.

What did you have for dinner last night: Nice weather m

eans

lots of fresh greens for me! Romaine, cucu

mber, parsley, apple,

basil (my favorite), celery and carrots.

Favorite thing to do: Eat treats, eat hay, eat anyth

ing really!

Favorite snack: Apple Bites

Best physical feature: I am told I have an adorab

le face with

my large ears. My Mom says my bum is pr

etty cute as well!

Your favorite time of day: I am most frisky in the m

orning

when Mom is cleaning my home and gettin

g my breakfast ready.

Getting to Know You!

Hairyhairy recommends:kaytee Fiesta Max guinea Pig Food30662 $13.99 - 4.5 lbs

www.performatrinultra.com

Looking for an alternative? Developed by Dr. Dave Summers, Pet Valus nutritionist, Performatrin Ultra Grain-Free boasts a unique blend of three meat sources Turkey, Salmon and Duck.

Why Performatrin Ultra Grain-Free?Balancednutritionforalllifestages-frompuppytoseniorUniquetastseof3-meatblendisidealforpickyeatersNochickenproteinandnograinseliminaterelatedfoodsensitivitiesOmega-3fromsalmonoilhelpseaseitchyskinandhotspotsRequiredproteinlevelstosupportimprovedmuscledevelopment

andmaintenanceNomeatby-products,soya,artificialpreservatives,artificialcolorsorflavours

Available in three convenient sizes26.5lbbag-$49.9913.2lbbag-$28.995lbbag-$12.99

pet valu companion magazine fall 2012- us edition

Documents

pet valus

pet experts

pet superfood

new pet jokes

favorite treats

pet valu companion

different type of pet

benefits of pumpkin